Discussion on the Future Direction of Model Engineer and Workshop

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

As forum members will soon be aware, the two magazines Model Engineer and Model Engineers’ Workshop are to combine as a monthly title: Model Engineer & Workshop.

I will have the honour and challenge of editing the magazine. In essence, it is a return to Model Engineer of the late 80-mid 1990s, before MEW got into its stride and Model Engineer moved further away from covering tools and techniques.

The new format will have a considerable number of extra pages. This will allow me about 40% more original feature content – the space to cover a wider range of topics than both of the current formats, and hopefully keep readers of both ME and MEW engaged.

I will inherit a significant amount of unpublished submissions to ME as well as my stock of articles for MEW. One magazine a month will work through this content a lot slower than three magazines a month, even with extra pages.
This does mean that all contributors are likely to wait longer to see their work in print in the short to medium term. I ask for your patience with this.

Some of my thoughts are as follows, although nothing is set in stone, and I’m keen to hear your views:

I am very aware of the tradition and heritage behind Model Engineer; no-one can take this one without feeling that Percival Marshall is looking over their shoulder. That said, Percival Marshall was focused on the future of the hobby and made sure that his magazine always addressed new developments in model engineering.

To reflect this, it will be Smoke Rings and Postbag, not Ed’s Bench and Scribe a Line for the editorial and letters in the new title, but I intend to keep On The Wire to reflect wider developments in engineering as well as news about the hobby.

There are many readers (about a quarter) that subscribe to both titles, a majority of the others are MEW subscribers. This suggests that the broader scope of MEW is popular, so the new magazine must encompass the wide range of topics covered by MEW as well as sustaining the ‘traditional model engineering’ content of ME.

It would help to know what readers most value about ME and MEW?

Are there features of either title that you would be happy to see lost, changed or improved?

At MEW I have tried to avoid long constructional series, while ME has not shied away from these. I do hope the increased page count will allow more of a balance between shorter and longer content, but feedback on what readers prefer is welcome.

Typical content? Both tend to cover traditional metalworking machines and skills. What do we find in one magazine and not the other?

ME: Steam locomotives. Stationary Engines. Traction Engines. IC engine. Heritage visits. Club news. Events such as locomotiove efficiency competitions. Theoretical discussion of designing working models (e.g. turbines, valve gear, boilers). Models largely in wood or other traditional materials (from farm carts to trams). Other areas of working models.

MEW: CNC and CAD. Less usual engineering projects. Practical techniques (e.g. hardness testing). Tool and accessory builds. Projects using module-based electronics. 3D printing. Measurement. More focus on techniques (e.g. sharpening tools). Heritage content tends to focus on older machine tools or ways of doing things. Larger engineering (e.g. welding).

Areas largely lost from ME and MEW over the years: Ship modelling. Aircraft modelling. Electronics. Optics. Astronomy. Car and motorcycle engines. Jewellery making.

Could we make more efficient use of space by making some content downloadable – such as plans or extra photographs?

Can we widen our appeal to a younger audience still focused on using practical technologies to make things? Makers, rocketry, robotics, animatronics…

Photography – MEW tends toward slightly larger photos and a more modern page style than MEW, which has been more traditional in its layout. What do you prefer?

Surely readers can come up with many more issues to discuss as well.

I am more than happy for readers and contributors to ask questions here or to email me about any aspect of the changes. My email is meweditor@mortons.co.uk my email may change, but this one will remain active for a considerable time. You can message me through this website, but email makes it much easier to deal with anything other than simple comments or queries.

However, these changes have come as I am dealing with personal bereavement, and the holiday season is almost upon us. Please appreciate that I may not be able to respond promptly to every response or message I get. I will read every response and, as with when I stepped into the Editor’s chair at MEW, I will take your feedback to heart and do my best to make sure Model Engineer & Workshop has something for everyone in every issue and pleases most of its readers most of the time.

Thank you, particularly thank you to everyone who has read MEW over my years as editor, your support has been greatly apprecaited.

I know how much both of these magazines mean to readers and how important they are to sustaining the future of our wonderful, diverse hobby.

I will do my best to make sure that the new magazine continues to meet your needs and support model engineering as a hobby.

Neil

 

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Moved from other thread

On 19 December 2024 at 15:37 SillyOldDuffer Said:

Interesting to see what happens, though there’s a chance I won’t like it.  Historically, I found:

Engineering in Miniature completely failed to engage me.  Too loco centric.
Model Engineering is worth paying for, even though models aren’t my thing, and the focus is retro.  Nonetheless, the techniques used to build stuff like trams often transfer into my workshop.  But I don’t look forward to reading build projects.
MEW is high value for me – modern with a dash of relevant retro.  Tools, materials, techniques etc.   No models.
Making the magazines pay must be difficult because the pressure on print journalism is enormous.  All the big high street newsagents round here have gone, so surviving magazines have to be delivered by post.  Youngsters are online, so tough luck grandad!  In that context I can’t get excited about a few typos – not when the barbarians might be at the gates!  Morton’s financials for the mags will show which of the two is performing best, and therefore which way future content should go – reinforce success.

Easier said than done.  Wonder if Morton’s read forum posts?   Might get the impression we’re a miserable bunch of yesterday’s men, enjoying a good moan, and not keen on spending money.   Unfair of course: I have a more positive view of members, though not everyone understands the hobby has to adapt.  It’s shifted well away from LBSC and the glorious hey-day 1950s.

Hope whatever is decided means I still get what I want, but nothing would surprise me.

Dave

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Moved from Other thread

On 19 December 2024 at 15:29 Russell Eberhardt Said:
On 19 December 2024 at 13:54 Neil Wyatt Said:
An official announcement on the future of ME and MEW will be made soon.

Neil Wyatt
Well I hope it is soon.  Mortons have already sent me two emails to say that I should renew my subscription to MEW now as it expires soon.  It has just over three months to run! Is that their definition of soon?

Russell

Sorry just seen your official anouncement.  I’ll not be renewing just yet then!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I have known of this for a couple of days and will add my thoughts later.

In the mean time it would be useful if any respondants could say if they subscribe to one or both titles, if they have let their subscription slip or if they just use the forum and don’t subscribe.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Congratulations Neil.  It is a great opportunity for you but at the same time it must be rather daunting thinking of all the extra work.  Sorry about your bereavement.  I sympathise having lost my wife this year.

Good luck

Russell

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

Sorry Neil to hear about your loss and congratulations on your new post.

I have not taken ME since the 1990’s. My subscription to MEW runs out now. I will not be renewing as I have decided to move on from the Model Engineering sphere. Other than my occasional input on this forum with my current workshop projects, (which are about to come to an end), I cannot see my new interest to be of interest to the majority of MEW forum members.

I do however wonder if the comment above “use the forum and don’t subscribe”, is the way the Forum is heading in the future, ie subscription only access.

Regards

Gray,

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

I think the stark reality is that without the magazine there is no forum.

regards Martin

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

I am one of those who use the forum and don’t subscribe, I used to , but the proliferation of cnc, cad and printer articles don’t float my boat.

I only buy now if I see anything that interests me, but that’s getting harder to find.

Ian

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